WMTR-FM
Encyclopedia
WMTR-FM is a radio station
that broadcasts at 96.1 MHz on the FM dial in Wauseon, Ohio
. WMTR-FM airs an adult hits
format combining classic rock
and Classic Hits
material. It is the primary local station for the Archbold/Fulton County area (including the cities of Delta,Swanton and Wauseon), and its 6,000-watt signal can be heard clearly from Adrian, Michigan
in the north to Defiance, Ohio
in the south. The station is also listenable in the western suburbs of Toledo
and is frequently rated in the Toledo Arbitron
ratings reports.
WMTR-FM began broadcasting in 1968 and formerly bore the callsign WHFD (which were the first letters of the 4 counties in its broadcast region--Williams, Henry, Fulton, and Defiance). The station is owned by Northwestern Ohio Broadcasting Corporation and prides itself on the fact that it is still locally owned and operated. Max Smith, Sr. founded the station, which is managed today by his son, Max Smith, Jr. In a note of historical significance, WMTR-FM was one of the first commercial radio stations in the nation to convert to DAT
technology in the late 1980s, considered state-of-the-art for the time.
WMTR-FM also has a strong sports commitment. In addition to being an affiliate of ESPN Radio
, WMTR covers high school sports and carries both Detroit Tigers
baseball
and Ohio State University
football
. In the fall of 2011, WMTR joined the Rocket Sports Radio Network
, carrying selected University of Toledo
football and men's basketball
games.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
that broadcasts at 96.1 MHz on the FM dial in Wauseon, Ohio
Wauseon, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,091 people, 2,706 households, and 1,875 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,437.6 people per square mile . There were 2,851 housing units at an average density of 578.0 per square mile...
. WMTR-FM airs an adult hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
format combining classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
and Classic Hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
material. It is the primary local station for the Archbold/Fulton County area (including the cities of Delta,Swanton and Wauseon), and its 6,000-watt signal can be heard clearly from Adrian, Michigan
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
in the north to Defiance, Ohio
Defiance, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,465 people, 6,572 households, and 4,422 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,562.4 people per square mile . There were 7,061 housing units at an average density of 670.0 per square mile...
in the south. The station is also listenable in the western suburbs of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
and is frequently rated in the Toledo Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
ratings reports.
WMTR-FM began broadcasting in 1968 and formerly bore the callsign WHFD (which were the first letters of the 4 counties in its broadcast region--Williams, Henry, Fulton, and Defiance). The station is owned by Northwestern Ohio Broadcasting Corporation and prides itself on the fact that it is still locally owned and operated. Max Smith, Sr. founded the station, which is managed today by his son, Max Smith, Jr. In a note of historical significance, WMTR-FM was one of the first commercial radio stations in the nation to convert to DAT
Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987. In appearance it is similar to a compact audio cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm. As...
technology in the late 1980s, considered state-of-the-art for the time.
WMTR-FM also has a strong sports commitment. In addition to being an affiliate of ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
, WMTR covers high school sports and carries both Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. In the fall of 2011, WMTR joined the Rocket Sports Radio Network
WSPD
WSPD — branded The Talk of Toledo - 1370 WSPD — is a news-talk radio station licensed to Toledo, Ohio. WSPD broadcasts on a full-time basis with 5,000 watts, including a directional signal pattern at night...
, carrying selected University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
football and men's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
games.